When Adrian and Samantha stepped into the living room, Joanna quickly pulled Samantha away. She wanted Samantha to do a pregnancy exercise she had seen on the television.Adrian walked up to the sky garden alone and reclined on one of the deck chairs. He then opened up a book and read it in peace.The book was a historical record of Wyvern Peak, with the legacies of all war legates written in it. It also contained the number of times Wyvern Peak had been dissolved and brought back together once more.That’s right. This was not the first time Wyvern Peak was dissolved. They had gone through the same process once sixty years ago, that disbandment lasting for three whole years. It was then rebuilt in three days through a secret order sent by War Legate Boreas.On top of that, this action laid down Wyvern Peak’s foundation and was a sign that the now-dissolved Wyvern Peak, which was dissolved for a second time, will eventually rise from the ashes once more.There was a reason why the
Juno squinted her eyes.‘According to the books I’ve read, Herculean Boxing is a mixed martial arts technique unique to Wyvern Peak. It was developed after years of trial and error. I’ve also read that this technique is a must-have for all of Wyvern Peak’s soldiers.It’s probably the most ferocious technique to date.’Juno recalled reading about this technique. So when she heard Adrian’s offer, she quickly said, “But, Brother, I don’t know how to fight even though I know the technique. I’ve read about it before but it’s really difficult to learn.”“Don’t worry, I’ll teach you.” Adrian stood up, pulling Juno to her feet as well.“You’ve got an extraordinary memory, Juno. I’ll demonstrate the technique slowly, and I want you to repeat what I’ve done in all seriousness after you’ve learned it.”Juno nodded, allowing Adrian to begin his demonstration. His movements looked slow, but the force of his punches was filled with vitality and ferocity while his defenses were impeccable, demo
Joanna then shot a glare in Adrian’s way.Rue was extremely focused on wanting Juno to do well in school since she had always been a studious person. Hence, she hoped Juno would not get distracted.Hearing this, Adrian had no choice but to smile since he could not refute his mother.On the other hand, Juno took his side and said, “I was the one who pestered Brother into teaching me, Mother.”Rue looked at Juno and replied, “Right now, you should be focusing on your studies, Juno. You’re going to be taking your university entrance exams soon, so you mustn’t do anything that might distract you from this. You need to work hard and do your best to get the best results possible.”Juno nodded, and Rue turned toward Adrian once more. “No more teaching her how to fight from now on, understand?”Adrian nodded, while Joanna and Samantha continued to observe the scene. After that, Rue headed downstairs to resume her cooking.Joanna stuck her tongue out at Adrian and pulled a face, but was
“You attended that university, didn’t you? Has it been helpful to you so far?”Adrian had made that statement very casually, but it was enough to cause Samantha’s expression to darken.She instantly grabbed Adrian’s ear and shot a glare at him as she said, “Are you trying to insinuate that I’m a useless person? Is there a problem with me being a graduate of Southrive University? At least I managed to start my own company.”Adrian, whose mouth twitched from the pain of having his ear pulled, said, “That’s not what I meant. I’m just trying to say that going to university isn’t the only way in life. Juno’s a talented girl, so don’t you think it’d be a huge shame for her to live her life as an ordinary person?”“But your mother prefers that kind of life for her. You’ve got an extraordinary life, but have you actually been able to enjoy life so far? Sometimes, I’d rather you not be the legate, to be honest,” Samantha said.Although Samantha had her point, Adrian still thought Juno shou
Rue’s stubbornness left Adrian feeling helpless.At the same time, Juno was out in the living room watching television. But, in truth, her mind was already on cloud nine. Over the past few days, while Adrian was teaching her more about Herculean Boxing, she had sensed that he wanted her to become like him.Yet, Rue was very adamant about not wanting her to follow his path.“Is something on your mind, Juno?”Just as Juno was deep in thought, Samantha walked over and sat next to her with a smile on her face. Juno pointed to the kitchen and said, “Brother’s talking with Mother right now, and I think it’s about me. Mother sounds really angry.”Samantha looked toward the kitchen and guessed that Adrian was trying to persuade Rue. She smiled and asked, “Adrian’s trying to groom you into becoming like him. What are your thoughts on this?”Juno remained silent for a moment. She could understand what Adrian wanted for her.‘Everyone should have a glorious dream they’d like to pursue in l
Rue would do this every year without fail.She believed that it was Saint Elmer who had been protecting Adrian and their entire family all this time.When Adrian heard this, he looked up in confusion. “Is the event happening tomorrow? It’s been so many years since I’ve been to St. Elmer’s Church.”Back when Adrian was still a little boy, Rue would take him there with her every year. Time seemed to freeze whenever he thought about the church.Meanwhile, Samantha smiled and said, “Mother’s been taking me there every year while you were away, dear.”“Looks like she hasn’t changed her habits,” Adrian said with a smile.Rue was not a very capable woman per se, but she strongly believed that Saint Elmer could protect them, and it was the only consolation she had over her years of hardships.Juno then said, “I heard they’ve invited a group of choir singers from Azure Creek. I hear they’re really famous.”St. Elmer’s Church would hire a group of local choir singers every year, which wa
“This place is packed!”Samantha was enveloped by the event’s atmosphere the moment she got out of the car. Hand-in-hand, she, Joanna, and Juno walked through the streets while Adrian followed behind them.There were cheers, people yelling out their wares for sale, and many more sounds echoing from both sides. It was a joyous occasion that Adrian rarely had the luxury of enjoying.The choir was still singing at the foot of the mountains. Aside from that, the fragrance of Swallowston’s local delicacies emanated throughout the air, making Adrian recall a time very, very long ago when Rue often brought him to the church.Adrian, purely focused on having fun, suddenly thought of someone.“Mother, someone just came to mind. I wonder if you still remember him,” Adrian rushed over to Rue’s side and asked, who was rather curious about it.As they walked, she asked, “Who is it?”“He used to sell carved wooden dolls outside the church, and I remember him knowing a thing or two about astro
Soon, they got to the end of the line.Rue said, “Let’s head inside.”Samantha and the others nodded and were about to go into the church when Adrian suddenly said, “I’m going to pass on the prayer session, Mother. I’ll be outside.”“Why?” Rue asked in confusion.At that moment, Juno smiled and said, “There’s a rule at Wyvern Peak where its soldiers are forbidden to kneel before anyone except for their parents and benefactors.” It was then Rue understood why Adrian was skipping the session.“All right then. You go ahead and wait for us outside. Don’t go off without us, okay?”After Adrian acknowledged her instructions, Rue brought Samantha and the others in while Adrian waited outside. He was watching the stage when he suddenly heard the voices of children saying…“I want a doll.”“Me too.”“Me three!”Adrian instantly looked toward the source of the voices.At a spot not too far from the church, a group of children were surrounding a very old-looking man. The man had a bl
The Daemon Emperor was startled."What is happening? This power..."Formless energy was surging forward, pressuring his nerves and senses.Below, Andy and the others trembled uncontrollably."Who is it?" Finnian stared into the crimson mist.Even Andy was horrified, his gaze locked on the unfolding scene in disbelief, and asked, "What is this? What exactly is happening?" At this moment, Adrian abruptly opened his eyes.Apparently, the Daemon Emperor had once conspired with Adrian's subordinates to ambush him.However, Adrian had managed to annihilate the traitors and sealed this Daemon Emperor. Now, fate had brought them together again."If I killed you once, I can kill you again." Adrian stood tall, his white robes fluttering in the air.The Daemon Emperor was stunned into silence."This is impossible! You're not that mortal boy!""Is that so? In this life, your end has come, and so has the era of the daemons." Adrian's voice was calm yet resolute. He stretched out his han
Adrian's face hardened at the words. He despised threats above all else. While he understood what the mysterious entity desired, he couldn't yet fully comprehend its implications or find a way to counter it. His only choice was to focus on growing stronger.Within the hot spring, waves of raw, terrifying power surged and crashed violently against Adrian's body.The force, though beneficial, was brutal and overwhelming. Adrian's body struggled to endure, cracking as though it were disintegrating."Arghhh!"A heart-wrenching scream echoed as Adrian's flesh was torn apart and his aura gradually dimmed."Ahhh!"His agonized cries echoed once more. He could no longer withstand the pain.In the distance, a towering figure appeared and sneered. "What's this? Can't take it anymore? Pathetic. Humans are truly the epitome of stupidity."Suddenly, Adrian erupted with an explosive surge of energy, and in that instant, he broke through to the pinnacle of the Void Stage."Hmm? He actually b
At that moment, the crowd was speechless.Adrian had ascended as if it were the easiest thing in the world.Faced with such a sight, no one could say much beyond admiration. Even if the Holy Son claimed Adrian had cheated, many secretly wished they could cheat the same way.Lacking Adrian's means, all they could do was envy him.Finnian chuckled. "Haha! You really caught us all by surprise, kid. Still, I'll count this as you repaying me a favor."For Finnian, the outcome couldn't have been better. With a broad smile, he seemed to have achieved his desired result. Adrian's successful climb was all that mattered to him.Once Adrian had vanished, the focus shifted to the rest of the group and their trials.When Adrian opened his eyes again, his entire body ached, but an oddly comforting sensation flowed through him. Surveying his surroundings, he realized he was now in a pond."Where am I?" he asked.Though uncertain about the place, Adrian knew he had cleared the trial and arriv
The onlookers stared in bewilderment, their faces etched with confusion as they struggled to grasp the unfolding events.Meanwhile, Adrian seethed with barely contained rage. This wasn't his first encounter with such torment. Every few steps he ascended, another trial awaited.To Adrian, the relentless punishments felt suffocating. Yet he pressed on—this was the final stretch of the climb. "Adrian, hang in there!" Andy shouted, urging him to conquer the last step. To Andy, reaching that final step symbolized Adrian's growth. He had witnessed Adrian's remarkable resilience countless times and held unwavering faith in his potential. In Andy's eyes, Adrian was destined for greatness. Adrian's expression turned cold as he locked his gaze on the steps ahead. Determination flickered in his eyes. "If reaching the top guarantees a reward, it doesn't have to be me up there. As long as someone makes it, that's enough." With that, he shifted his focus to the void above and formed
Adrian felt as if every nerve in his body was beyond his control. A deep sense of grievance filled his heart as the divine thunder from the void relentlessly crashed down.Rage surged within him, but under the onslaught of endless forces, he felt weak and constrained.Still, he had no choice but to press forward. He knew victory was within reach if he could endure a little longer—giving up now would mean death.If he fell, the shame and humiliation would crush him.Below, the Holy Son and others waited, eager to see him fail and mock him. This left Adrian no option but to push forward, striving toward the void above and his ultimate goal.The violent forces continued to bombard him from the sky.With every step, the thunder's impact intensified tenfold. His soul, already battered from a fierce battle with a horde of beasts, now felt as though it was dragging his exhausted body forward.Anyone else would likely have succumbed to despair. After all, under such immense pressure, ev
The oppressive forces descending from the void seemed determined to halt Adrian’s ascent up the staircase.Yet he refused to yield. To him, these overwhelming challenges were merely obstacles to conquer.He pressed forward with relentless determination.Thunderbolts continued to rain down, but the ominous red light from before did not return—a relief, as he never wished to endure its crushing weight again.The memory of that light still haunted him, leaving a lingering sense of helplessness. Its suffocating pressure had drained his strength, reducing him to a gasping, powerless state.Despite the toll on his body and mind, Adrian remained singularly focused on reaching the final step. His burning desire for greater power drove him forward, unwavering and resolute.Step by step, he ascended, reaching the 95th step in what felt like an instant.Only five steps remained. His gaze locked onto the summit, and a wild glint lit his eyes. A daring idea sparked within him, consuming his
Adrian pondered his situation, his cold gaze reflecting simmering frustration. Yet deep down, he recognized that whoever had designed the staircase was far from ordinary.Creating such a formidable trial required unimaginable power.Even a pinnacle Void Stage expert—or perhaps someone of the Multiply Stage—might bow in reverence before the ladder's creator."He won't last much longer. The divine lightning in this void is utterly destructive. In moments, he'll be reduced to ashes," sneered the Holy Son, his sharp eyes gleaming with malice.To the Holy Son, Adrian's demise was inevitable. Adrian had dared to offend him, and he was certain such audacity could only lead to death.Adrian caught the Holy Son's words and cast him a frosty glare. His intent to kill was unmistakable, though now wasn't the time.The staircase was no place for personal vendettas—eliminating him here would require careful planning.He also knew the Holy Son carried seals of immense power. A reckless move co
Finnian's sharp gaze reflected a hint of admiration. "Kid, you owe me a big favor this time. You'd better treasure this opportunity."Adrian remained silent, unsure how to respond. His cold eyes revealed no emotion, though he fully grasped the challenges ahead.Fear was a luxury he couldn't afford—he'd come too far to back down now.Suddenly, a streak of red light surged from the void, hurtling toward Adrian with terrifying speed. His eyes widened in shock as the crimson beam struck him, slamming him against the staircase.Caught off guard, Adrian collapsed, sprawled helplessly on the steps.The crowd below watched in astonishment. No one had expected his seemingly indestructible body to be overwhelmed so easily.The Holy Son sneered. "Haha! It seems he's triggered some kind of taboo. Let's see how arrogant he is now!"His voice dripped with schadenfreude, his eyes gleaming with malicious satisfaction as he relished Adrian's struggle.Despite the crushing force, Adrian refused
"What exactly is up there pulling me so strongly?" Adrian's expression hardened as he pondered the mysterious force drawing him upward.A surge of violent energy erupted across the sky, crashing down like a raging storm.Adrian advanced cautiously, each step deliberate and precise.Gone were the reckless strides of before—now he moved with steely determination, fully aware of the lurking dangers.He'd learned that the void's formidable forces seemed to target him directly, compelling him to proceed step by step. Any attempt to bypass its unseen barriers would provoke a devastating strike."Ridiculous," Adrian muttered. "If I've chosen to climb, nothing will stop me."The void's relentless power intensified.Bolts of thunder hammered down mercilessly, battering Adrian's body. Yet fear never crossed his mind.What was there to be afraid of?To him, the divine thunder wasn't an obstacle—it was a crucible, a tool to temper his body and strengthen his resolve.Despite the storm, A